It’s kind of a perfect meeting to see the Cowboys at 2-1 and the Bears at 2-1 meeting this Monday in Dallas. Both teams have run somewhat parallel courses to start the season with big wins in Week 1 and horrible losses in Week 2. They both also won their Week 3 match ups that they were expected to win. Now the two will take divergent courses after squaring off for Monday Night Football.

There are issues for both offensive lines and this has the looks of a defensive battle throughout with the winner being the team that doesn’t give way first, or maybe gives way the least. The Cowboys will look to take advantage of the Bears woes on the line bringing DeMarcus Ware to put pressure on Jay Cutler who will be trying to rally the troops after the unfortunate breakdown last week where Cutler pushed tackle J’Marcus Webb after getting sacked.

Dallas will look to continue their solid play from their revamped secondary consisting of Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, and Mike Jenkins which they will need to slow down Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, and Devin Hester. The Dallas secondary has been good, allowing an average of 137 yards per game passing, though this is after two games against, rookie QB, Russell Wilson and Josh Freeman, who are on more run based teams. The Cowboy’s new found speed at the linebacker position, with Bruce Carter and Sean Lee, should also be a key factor with Matt Forte possibly making his return to the Bears line up.

The team will need to get DeMarco Murray going early in the contest after having him fall short over the last 2 games where he has totaled 82 yards, and will have no easy day against the Bears 6th ranked rush defense that is allowing an average of 76 years per game on the ground. They also need to do a better job protecting Tony Romo, who was sacked 4 times last week, as the Bears are currently leading the league with 14 sacks and accounting for Julius Peppers will be a must.

We have to see something from Dez Bryant this week. After moving up in the draft to grab him and suffering through injury and off the field issues, it’s time for Dez to start beating coverages and start showing the team why he was worth moving up to draft. The hype train has long been rolling for the talent that Dez possesses, and it is there, and Monday night would be a great place to showcase it.

The Cowboys should have the slight edge offensively, but it looks to be a very close game and the outcome could be pivotal for two very similar teams.